Method of folding sterile surgical garments before and after sterilization

ABSTRACT

A method for folding, sterilizing and using a garment of the type used in a lamina flow clean room without contaminating the sterile outside garment structure. The garment is folded in a preferred manner that places the garment more or less in a half inside out condition and the sleeves are each half folded inside out before the garment is packaged and sterilized. After the package is sterilized the user of the garment unfolds the garment back to the inside out condition and inserts each hand into a folded sleeve. This allows the user to raise the half folded garment over his head and allow the folded garment to unfold without contaminating the outside portion.

This invention relates generally to a sterile surgical garment used inlamina flow clean rooms by doctors and nurses and more particularly to amethod of folding the garment prior to sterilization and the method ofutilizing the sterilized garment without contaminating the outsidesurface of the garment by the user

In the medical field, it is most important to protect the patient in theoperating room from infection during high risk procedures from bacteriaand other microorganisms that may be brought in on the garments of thedoctor and other operating room personnel. To alleviate this, allpersonnel in the operating room environment are required to becompletely covered by a suitable surical gown that has been previouslysterilized.

The sterilized gowns are necessary, not only to protect the patient, butalso to protect the doctor and operating room personnel from exposure toviruses and other microorganisms from an infected patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, there are many problems associated with placing a sterilegown on the user. It is most important, of course, that the sterile gownnot be contaminated during the process of being opened and placed on theuser, and, until the advent of the present invention, it has been verydifficult to insure this sterilization of the gown when placed on theuser.

The most common prior art technique was to place a sterilized gown overa tent-like apparatus that was hoisted over the user's head. The userwould then be placed underneath the apparatus and the sterilized garmentwould be lowered over the head of the user and in this way the outsidesurface of the sterilized garment would not be contaminated.

Such devices were, of course, very cumbersome and difficult to use inthe environment of a hospital operating room, and as a result, theproblem has continued through the present time. In the presentinvention, the garment is first folded in a half inside out conditionand each sleeve is half folded inside out and within the folded garment.The sleeve openings are placed facing the bottom the garment which isthen folded, packaged and sterilized.

In the preferred environment, the garment is first folded prior tosterilization and then packaged and ethylene oxide gas sterilized priorto use. After the garment is completely sterilized, the sterile packageis then moved conveniently to the operating room where it is opened andthe garment placed on a flat table and opened. The user inserts hishands into each folded half sleeve and raises the garment over his headand with a minimum of assistance is able to allow the folded garment tounfold over his body thereby not contaminating the outside surface.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a garmentfolded in a preferred manner that allows the user to easily place thefolded garment over his body.

It is a further object of the invention to fold the garment prior tosterilization and to fold the garment in such a manner that whenunfolded and used, the outside surface is not contaminated by the act ofinserting the garment on the user.

A still further object of the invention allows the user to place thegarment on his body and without the use of external devices orcontrivances.

In the practice of the present invention there is provided a surgicalgown having a hood portion and sleeve portions and in which the gown ispreferably disposable. In the art as practiced today, disposablematerials are preferred because of infection problems generated by theAIDS virus and the fear that AIDS viruses are not easily disposed of orcontrolled. The doctors therefore prefer a disposable garment that isdestroyed after use rather than one that is reprocessed. Be it as itmay, the disclosed method of folding and using is applicable to any kindof surgical garment.

The garment is folded prior to sterilization and preferably is placed ona flat surface with the obverse side exposed to the outside. The garmentis stretched out so that the sleeve portions are pulled out from thebody of the gown and the head portion is pulled out thereby exposing thecomplete gown on the flat surface.

The cuff portions of each sleeve are grabbed and pulled back to theshoulder portion of the garment, thereby in effect folding each sleevein half in an inside out condition with the reverse side exposed.

The hem is then gathered and pulled up and over to the shoulder portionof the gown thereby covering the folded sleeves and exposing the reverseside of one half of the gown. In this condition, the gown is halffolded. The gown in the inside condition is folded in the form of asquare with the folded sleeves on the inside.

The opened end of each sleeve is formed within the folded gown and islocated along the bottom edge of the square formed when the hem isfolded up to the shoulder portion thereby placing the opened end of thefolded sleeve facing the bottom of the gown and opposite the headportion.

The bottom of the gown is opened thereby exposing the folded sleeves. Apull tab is placed on each sleeve portion approximately two inches fromthe end of the opening in the sleeve. The opened end of each sleeve isrepositioned to again place the open edge along the bottom of the gownthat is opposite the head portion. The gown is then folded in the formof a square in which the main portion of the gown is inside out and thefolded sleeve portions are within the folds of the gown. A second pulltab is attached to the outside portion of the square between each sleeveportion and approximately four inches from the bottom of the square. Thesquare is again folded into a smaller square and completely wrapped andcovered. The covered square is placed in a sealed plastic container andthe complete package is then sterilized.

Once the gown has been folded and sterilized, it is now an easy matterfor the user to move the gown to any location without affecting orcontaminating the gown surface.

Prior to use the sterilized container is opened on a substantially flattable and the wrappings around the gown are removed and the gown openedin the form of a square. The bottommost portion of the gown is separatedto expose the opened end portions of the folded sleeve portions. Theuser then inserts a hand into each folded sleeve portion up to the cuffportion, and with each hand inserted within the folded sleeve, the userraises the folded gown over his head. An assistant then pulls on each ofthe two tabs, one on each of the folded sleeve portions thereby allowingthe folded sleeves to unfold and cover the arms of the user.

In this position, the gown is substantially over the head of the userand the sleeves fully cover the arms of the user. An assistant thenpulls on the single tab which is located on the reverse side therebyunfolding the gown and which forces the head of the user into the headportion of the gown. The hem portion is pulled down and unfolded therebyplacing the user wholly within the gown and without contaminating theoutside of the gown.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent by referring now to the accompanying drawingswherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the gown located on a table prior to folding;

FIG. 2 illustrates the operators inserting their hands through the cuffin folding each sleeve back to the shoulder portion;

FIG. 3 illustrates the operators gathering the gown prior to folding thehem back to the shoulder portion

FIG. 4 shows the operators pulling the hem portion back to the shoulderprior to making the garment into a square.

FIG. 5 illustrates the garment folded in a square with the head portionstill exposed.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operator separating the bottom portion of thegarment and adjusting the folded sleeves on an edge opposite the headand then inserting a tab on each folded sleeve.

FIG. 7 illustrates the placing of a tab on the outside of the foldedgarment and on the same side as the folded sleeves.

FIG. 8 illustrates a separate inner cover used to wrap around the foldedgarment prior to being inserted within the plastic container forsterilization.

FIG. 9 shows the sterilized gown open in the form of a square and placedon the flat table;

FIG. 10 shows the folded arm portions being exposed from within thebottom portion of the folded gown;

FIG. 11 illustrates the user placing his hands within each of the foldedsleeve portions prior to placing the gown on his body;

FIG. 12 illustrates the user extending his hands to the cuff portion ofeach folded sleeve prior to placing the gown over his head together withan assistant pulling the tabs on each folded sleeve portion;

FIG. 13 illustrates the user with the gown over his head and theassistant pulling the single tab on the outside causing the gown to bepulled down over the body of the user;

FIG. 14 illustrates the user with the gown over his head with the foldedgown being unfolded and the users head being covered by the gown; and

FIG. 15 illustrates the gown completely covering the user's head andbody and arms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a substantially flattable 10 and a complete single gown 12 comprising a lower body portion14 and two sleeve portions 16 and 18 together with a head portion 20.The complete gown is laid flat on the table 10 prior to being folded inaccordance with the terms of the present invention.

In the preferred environment, two separate operators are used to foldthe gown, however, two operators are not needed since a single personcould fold the gown as described. It is preferred however to use twooperators since the gown can be folded faster and more efficiently aswould be required in a commercial operation. Each of the operatorsinserts her hand within the sleeve portion 16 and 18 and grabs the cuffportion 22 located at the end of sleeve 16 and a cuff portion 24 locatedat the end of sleeve 18. Cuff portions 22 and 24 are folded back to theshoulder portion of the gown thereby reducing the length of sleeve 16and 18 to one half of what they normally would be.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the operators are shown gathering the body ofthe gown 14 preparatory to folding the hem portion 26 back across and tothe shoulder portion of the gown 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown and illustrated the fact of eachoperator pulling the hem portion 26 back and up to the shoulder portionof the gown thereby placing the gown in an inside out condition andexposing the reverse side of the body portion of the gown 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates the gown 12 formed as a square with the head portion20 at one end and with the openings of the folded sleeve portions 16 and18 located within the gown 12 and having the opened end portion alongedge 30 which is opposite the head portion 20.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated an operator placing a tab32 on the folded sleeve 18 and a tab 34 on the folded sleeve 16. Each ofthe tabs 32 and 34 are placed approximately two inches from the edge ofthe gown 30 and will be used by an assistant when the user is insertingthe gown on his body.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated an operator having placeda single tab 36 on the outside of gown 12 and approximately four inchesfrom the edge 30. The operator is shown folding the gown 12 into a morecompact arrangement.

FIG. 8 illustrates the folded gown 12 placed on a separate covering 38that will be folded over and protect the gown 12. The complete coveringof 38 and the gown 12 is then placed in a plastic bag and the completeunit is sterilized according to well known techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown the gown 12 having been removedfrom its sterilized plastic container. The outer garment 36 is laid flaton the table 10 with the gown 12 opened in the form of a square. The Tab36 is shown on the outside close to the edge 30.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown how the hem portion of the edge30 is separated to expose the folded sleeve 16 and 18. This step isnecessary and preparatory to the user inserting his hands into thefolded sleeves 16 and 18. The hands of the user are inserted up to thecuff portion 22 on sleeves 16 and 24 on sleeve 18 as illustrated in FIG.11.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated how the user is insertinghis hands within the folded sleeve 16 and 18 respectively while the gown12 is still located on the table 10.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown how the user is bending forwardand moving each of his arms into sleeves 16 and 18 and in such a mannerthat each of his hands grabs the cuff portion 22 and 24 associated withsleeves 16 and 18 respectively.

FIG. 13 illustrates how the user, while holding the cuff portion 22 and24 in each hand, lifts the gown 12 above his head while an associategrabs each of the tabs 32 and 34 located on the folded sleeve 16 and 18.While the associate pulls on the tabs 32 and 34, this helps the userpush his hands up and into the sleeves 16 and 18 and allows the sleevesto unfold thereby covering each arm as the garment is pulled down.

Referring now to FIG. 14, there is shown how an associate now grabs thesingle tab 36 on the body portion 14 of gown 12 and by pulling down onthe tab 36 the head portion of the gown is forced to cover the head ofthe user and the body portion of the gown is folded down over the bodyof the user as is now shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 15 the gown is unfolded and can now be assembled on theuser and without the use of external equipment and at the same timewithout compromising the sterility of the outside of the gown.

I claim:
 1. A method of folding a surgical gown into a complete packagehaving a hood portion, sleeve portions cuff portion, hem portions, headportion, and an open end comprising the steps of:placing the gown on aflat surface with the obverse side exposed; extending the hood portionand the sleeve portions out from the body of the gown so the garment isflat; pulling the cuff portion of each sleeve up to the shoulder portionthereby folding each sleeve in half and inside out; gathering the hemportion and folding the gown in half by bringing the hem portion to theshoulder portion thereby leaving half the gown folded inside out withthe head portion exposed and the gown substantially flat and in the formof a square; separating the bottommost portion of the gown and foldingthe open end of each half sleeve within the folded gown and locating theopen end along the edge of the square opposite the head portion;attaching a pull tab on each sleeve portion within the square andapproximately 2 inches from the end of the opening in the sleeve;folding the head portion within the square; attaching a single pull tabto the outside portion of the square between each sleeve portions andapproximately 4 inches from the bottom of the square; folding andcompletely wrapping the gown and inserting the wrapped gown into asealed plastic container; and then sterilizing the complete package. 2.The method of using the sterilized package defined in claim 1 in whichthe gown has folded sleeve positions and the sealed plastic container isthe wrapping covering the sterilized gown comprising the stepsof:opening the sterilized packaged on a substantially flat table,removing the wrapping and opening the folded package into the form of asquare; opening the bottommost portion of the gown to expose the foldedsleeve portions, inserting a hand into each folded sleeve portion up tothe cuff and raising the folded gown over the head of the user; pullingon each of the two tabs on the folded sleeve portion thereby allowingthe folded sleeves to unfold and cover the arms of the user; pulling onthe single tab thereby unfolding the gown and forcing the head of userinto the head portion of the gown; and then unfolding the hem portion ofthe gown thereby placing the user wholly within the gown withoutcontaminating the outside of the gown.
 3. A method of folding a surgicalgown into a complete package having a hood portion, sleeve portion,folded sleeve, cuff portion, hem portion, an open end and in which thesealed plastic container is the wrapping covering the sterilized gownand without contaminating the outside surface comprising the stepsof:placing the gown on a flat surface with the obverse side exposed;extending the hood portion and the sleeve portions out from the body ofthe gown so the garment is flat; pulling the cuff portion of each sleeveup to the shoulder portion thereby folding each sleeve in half andinside out; gathering the hem portion and folding the gown in half bybringing the hem portion to the shoulder portion thereby leaving halfthe gown folded inside out with the head portion exposed and the gownsubstantially flat and in the form of a square; separating thebottommost portion of the gown and folding the open end of each halfsleeve within the folded gown and locating the open end along the edgeof the square opposite the head portion; attaching a pull tab on eachsleeve portion within the square and approximately 2 inches from the endof the opening in the sleeve; folding the head portion within thesquare; attaching a single pull tab to the outside portion of the squarebetween each sleeve portions and approximately 4 inches from the bottomof the square; folding and completely wrapping the gown and insertingthe wrapped gown into a sealed plastic container; then sterilizing thecomplete package; opening the sterilized packaged on a substantiallyflat table, removing the wrapping and opening the folded package intothe form of a square; opening the bottommost portion of the gown toexpose the folded sleeve portions, inserting a hand into each foldedsleeve portion up to the cuff and raising the folded gown over the headof the user; pulling on each of the two tabs on the folded sleeveportion thereby allowing the folded sleeves to unfold and cover the armsof the user; pulling on the single tab attached to the square betweeneach sleeve portion thereby unfolding the gown and forcing the head ofuser into the head portion of the gown; and then unfolding the hemportion of the gown thereby placing the user wholly within the gownwithout contaminating the outside of the gown.